Automatic lubricating device



Nov. 3, 1931. E. J. SERPAS 1,830,374

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l 13'. J Serpcw Nov. 3, 1931. E. J. SERPAS AUTOMATIC LUBRICATING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1928 NOV. 3, 1931. s s 1,830,374

AUTOMATI C LUBRI CATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4: 61 75 i' 57 M .4; l7 2] U/ 6 Nov. 3, 1931. E. .1. SERPAS AUTOMATIC LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7% Z 9 a a M mwfi M X7 I 9 w i 3 b W 41w 1 5 w 2 $5 I no w 3 5 o 2 N k w 7 W 10 56 0 V prior U. -S. Patent"N'o. 1,677,992,

40 out the several views i Patented Nov '3 193 tanner}; SERPAS,. OF NEW-barium, LOUISIANA 1 awommfmmmme DEVICE Application med December 18,1928; Serial n 326,8.8 1-1 i The present invention relates to impro'venients in automatic lubricating devices and relates to certain "improvements over my granted "July 24,1924, and reissuedAugust 28, 1928,

"Whereas the device according to the afore:

said patent derived its propulsion force for driving the lubricant totheb'earing from' the -Qvibrationrof 'thefvehicle[incident to road jj' travel, an objectofthe present inventionzisto utilize'the energyf-from the internal combustion or-froma stearn'engine, compressed an engine oran'ysource of'elastlc pressure p 5115 medium, whereby the-lubricant win be sube jected to pressure andfor'ced through one orfmore pipes to gabearing orfbearings' on a 'vehicleto "be lubricated. I

' i It is the aim, offthel present-invention to provide for, the ade uate and faithful lubrication of all theshackle bolts and other bear- 7 ing parts of the vehicle, while the same is in motion and in operation and at frequent in- V tervals in an automatic mannerv that will avoid the bearings running dry and becoming V unduly worn" and noisy 'for this reason. l

' v It is another object of the invention to provide'a simply constructed and positivelyfacting device for delivering measured' quantities 39 of'the lubricant periodically to the lubricating system. t H v I l With the foregoingand other objects-in view, I the invention willibe more fullyde scribed hereinafter, and will be more particugla'rly pointed ou i th ms pp n e "various shackle bolts, pins,

"of theram the inlet port 27 in the ram Figures is also a vertical sectiontaken on the-llne 5'5 in Figure 2.] YY 1 Figure 6 is a fragmentary'vertical section taken on the line-6 6 in Figure 2' with the plunger forced out and the valve placing the container in communication with the atmosphere,

- Figure? is a horizontal section taken on the line 7e-7 in Fi re 3.- Q

a F igure 8 isavertlcal sectiontaken on the 0 line 8 8 in Figure 2; T

"Figure 9 is alongitudinal section taken through one ofthe discharge nozzles showin the valve inone position.- y

Figure 10" is alongitudinal section taken 05 on the line 10-10'in Figure 9 with the valve shown in asubsequent-position, and

" Figure; 11 is a perspective view'of the bypass'spring employed; I

"Referrmg more particularly ,to'the draw rugs-15, 1n Figure'l, designates a tank orcontainer for the grease,- 'oil or other lubricant,

which is in communication with one cylinder of the internal combustion engine 16 through a pipe 17, whereby an internal pressure is developed -in the tank 15' for forcing the lubricant through the pipe system 18 to the Y bearings and other parts tobe lubricated. The dash board ofthe automobile" is represented at'919 and so the container 15 may be 'aflixedto this dash board or to anyother appropriate part.

7 "The tank or container is thus supported on the automobile or like machine at a point where it will'be covered beneath the hood of the vehicle; The container 15 isclosed at its upper end by a head 20 having castthereon or otherwise secured thereto, lugs 21 hav ingthreaded sockets to receive thebolts 22, shown in Figure 1-, whereby the entire assembly is secured to the dash board 19 'or' other part." *Gaflst, or otherwise formed, in the head 20, is a'ram casing 23 haVingoneend closed and the other end providedwith the packing nut or gland 24 perforated for the sliding therethrough' of the reciprocating plunger or ram'25 having the reduced end or extension'26 for overlapping, in the inner position casing.

coupled. by a nutfl3O to a check valve casing 31 havingfftherei'n the ball or other springpressed check valve 32 closing downwardly and opening upwardly to letthe lubricant i, into the ram casing-23 when 'alpre'determined pressure limit is exceeded, for which presaperture 33 for permitting the'flow ofoilor lubricantirom the ram casing back into the container 15. This port33-is under the control of a] needle valve 34;}adjustably mounted through the top of theiram casing and being exposed;for manipulation at the top of: the vdevice. A look nut, 35n1ay be. employed to hold the needle valve in the adjusted position, the. needle valve preferably having threads 36- which afiord a :IIllQiOl'IlGt-QI adjustment andhaving-a slottedfor otherhead 37 on-lthe V exterior to receive a screwrdrizvergor other tool, 'or the hand 'Ofjthe operator for rotating the same to control the port area at 33 so as to act 'asarelief valveforpermitting ot the, movement of the I oil i fromthe ram cylinderg23 back intoithecontainer'15. Con.-

into theram cylinder;

trolling the port -'33"is an upwardly seated spring-pressed check valve 38 adapted to be closed by'the aid of its spring and by the pressure existing f-within the. tank 1 15 "above thebo dy of li1brica 11t,. whereby this pressure is preventedgfrom spreading from the tank In the headmemberQZO -sprovideda tapered valve cage'39: for receiving a com plementally formed plug valve; 40' havingv a 1 valve port 4ltherein. As shown fin-Figure 5 ;this port 41, inone position of the valve 40 is adapted to set up communication between the ports 42 andt3-.=-;The port 42- com1nunie cates with the pipe; 17 which extends from the internal combustion n1otor.. Where this pipe 17 is coupled to-.,th head 26) check valve casing ctisprovided containing the upwardly closing spring-pressed check valve 45. This? check valvenlfi opens,lon predei;termined pressiu e Ling the pipe .17, but pre- ;vents 1 the backward "escape into. the pipe -17 ot the pressure'in the CQntaineri 15. A semi-V .globular mesh strainer-46 lies withinthe contai'ner and against'thie lower surface; of the jhead 20',being-held in'place by the washer 47 which "extends about the bolt or stem1 l8 ex- -.te nding down "tron-l the plug .rva-lve- 46-.- The washer 4:7; is yieldablypressed-upon by the coil spring- L9, which is confined at itsopa ,posite or "lower end by thewasher 50;; both t'vasher'sandfth'e spring being held removablyupon the stem 48by af cotter key 51hr other appropriate device; 1:

A disc washer 52 extends beneath the plug valve 410' and beneath the cage 39 and is per- 7 forated to receive the threaded portion 53 of position from thatshown in Figure 5, the g I Valve port 41 is shown as registering with sure limit the valve 32 is loaded.- Near the closed end of the ram-casing is a restricted.

theppin and-to the needle valve 37; V

; In Figure '6 (the ranrplunger is shom ig in the extended position aslengaging against a .contact'post ea which is insulated from the head 20 and coupled to azleadwire extend ing; to. a suitable 1 source; of; velect-roniotive force, such i for instance asthe battery circuit of the automobile. this 'conductortle'is included a signal lamp 66. "jiTh e circuit is grounded through the lead 6? at the opposite side of the c ontai'ner as shown in Figure 8.'

The postf6l answers two purposes, first as an "abutment to prevent the rampiston 25 from being forced completely out of the rain casing byftheoil-pressure; and secondly,'tom;ake a contact. which complete's an "electrical circuit from the] positive terminal?" 65, through the V lamp 66, post 64;, the ram. and finally to ground or negative 67'.v I a .6 7

As shown in Figure 4, the-.cohtainer 15 is securely held to thehead casting 20 by means of a centrahbolt 68 lying longitudinally Within the tank. Theb oltis threaded at its lower endinternally into a bushing-69 being hollow within for thepassage ot oil mamternally threaded as at 7 O and 71. The buslr ing 69 is provided with the shoulder or'flange 72 for clamping the gasket 73' against the lower projecting neck '74 of thecontainer, whereby to hold the tank between the flange 72 and the headcasting 20 Age sket may be'interposed between the head casting and the upper rim of the container 15'to avoid leakage. A perforation 76 is, made in the side wall'of the hollow'bushin'g 69 to setup communication between a chamber within the lower conical portion 29 of the container and the interior of said bushing 69. ;A strainer 7 7 {consisting of a perforated disc or 'a' strainer of other form hasiits peripheral edge engaging with thejwider I portion of the conical bottom-of the container. This straineris perforated to extend about the lower threaded and reduced end of-the'rbolt 68 gasket 7 8 andawasher 79 are interposedrbetween the strainer disc '7 7 and a shoulder 80 on thebolt Connected and communicating with the interior ofthe bushing 69'a's itslowerend is apipevnipple 81, which in turn communicates with a T-coupling 82 which connects with the I system "of pipes '18extending to the various destinations for the lubricant.

1 In the head casting 20 is a fillingcap83,

whereby lubricant may, besupplied to the container 15. Inthecapis a reliefvalve 841.

1 At the free, ends ofthe branch tubes or pipes 18 are metering valve-devices secured to the parts to be lubricated- Each valve devices includes a :casing 85 having threads 86, by-

which the device may be secured to the part to belubri'cated. In this end of the casing is' a'gthrea'ded 'hollo'w plug 87 out through which the; lubricant is forced.- This plug is provided with a conical valve seat 88 adapted to receive thereagainstathe valve member 89 carried by the valve'plun'ger 90. ,Thisvalve plunger isprovidedwith' an opposed valve member 91 adapted to close against a conical '-may have areciprocating movement in a such chamber.

formed with a longitudinal groove or pasc sage 93 extendingv from endto, endand revalveseat 92 in the other end of thecasing 85. The valve plunger 90 is of less length thanithe chamber within the "casing 85 between the valve-seats 88 and 92, whereby the plunger The valve plunger 90 is 'ceiving therein a leaf spring 94-shown more particularly in Figure: 11. 1 This spring vis provided with an annular head 95 bent' at approximately right angles to the leaf94. The annular head 95 'is adapted to surround the neck portion 96 of a plug whichis'adapted to fit into a recess 97 made in one end of the J valveplunger 90. This neck 96 is provided with a flange 91, which formsth'evalv'e member hereinbefore'referred to and this flange is adapted to bind the annular part 95 against the end ofthe valveplunger90, v

The flange 91 carries an extension plug or head 98 preferablyhavinga diameter at its free end substantially equal to the internal diameter of the passage 99 into which the plug 98'is movable, asshown in Figure 9.

Theplug 98=is preferably'of "a conic section with its smaller end adjoining the flange 91. I The'c'onduit 18 is'connected to the passage 99.

' 1 in any appropriate way as by the use of a nut union 100; A coil'spring 101 is seated at one end in a recess 102 in theplug 87 and at its inner end in a recess 103 in the adjoining end 7 of the plunger valve 90.' 1

In operation, it is assumed thatthecontainer l5is filled up to a suitable level with oil or other lubricant which is introduced by first removing'the filling cap The filling cap is afterwards replacedJ It is preferred not to'fill the container up to too high a level, but-to provide asubstantial headway above the liquidcolumn for. receiving gas under pressure. In the instance shown this pressure medium is received through the pipe 17'from the internal combustion engine 16, such pipe 17, communicating with one or moreor the compression chambers of the engine. During theoperation of the engine anportion'of the explosion pressurewill be forced into the tube17, past the check valve 45,- through the ports 42,41 and 43, as shown I in Figure 5,. and through the strainer 46 into the head spaceof the container 15 abov the body of lubricant.

y Afterjthe motor has pumped a sufiicient pressure into the tank 15, the lubricant will be forced out through aperture 76, shown in Figure 4, and out through the interior of the bushing '69, nipple81, T-coupling 82 and thence-to the conduits 18, which carry'the lubricant under'pressure to the valvedevices, shown in Figures 9iand 10. v The lubricant entering the valve casings 85, will act initially to force the valve plunger 90-.t0 the outer position, Q shown in, Figure 10, where. such valve plunger will close the seats at 89. The valve plunger 90 will be held in thisposition until the pressure in the tank 15 is relieved. The spacein the casings85behi'ndthe valve plungers 90-is thus filled with lubricant which escapes through the passage 99 about the larger end of the plug 98, which as shown in Figure 10 has been withdrawn a short distance Lfrom, the passage v99. While the various valve plungers 90 are being moved outwardly by the pressure of oil, as just referred to, the lubricant under pressure withinthe tank 15, entering the ram casing 23 through the pipe 28, breaks down the resistance ofthe spring 63, which tendsto resist the outward movement of the ram 25. Of course the oil opens the check valve 32 and this check valve will close to prevent the return of the oil to the'tank 15. As long as rocking the lever and with it thewvalve ll) from the position, shown in Figure 5, tot-hat shown in Figure 6, thereby cutting off the sourceof force supply from the tank 15 and placing the tank15 in communication with the atmosphere through the ports 55, 41 and 56. The pressure in the tank 15 is immedi- 33 isrestricted and hence although the neeately relieved andv consequently the pressure .al l 'through the conduitsystem --18 drops,

enabling the springs 101to return the-valve plungers 90to'the inner position, shown in Figure 9.1 The initial returnmovement finds the plugs 98ipromptly entering the passages 99110 trap tl1'e-.measured quantity of the lubrilcant-in the'chamber in the casing 85, whereplunge'rfs-90 out through the plugs 87 and into by. to prevent thisalubricant from returning through the pa'ssage99 and compelling the lubricant to by-pa'ss-about the plunger valve 90, the leaf spring 94- being depressed, auto- "ma-tical'ly bythe force ofthe oil pressure.

' the bearings or"-otherdestination fgorithe lubricant. o the; position shown Figure 9, the

valve =portions ;-91'arein line contact with the valve seats 92, sealing the system at all points of distribution and preventing any Q further P s ng of lubricant.

-' "If the needle valve 34 were closed upon the port 33 preventing the escapeof pressure within the ram casing 23, the ram 25 would I be held' inthe outer'positionagainst stop.

64, where-it has been moved as previously described. This would maintain the circuit closed and the lamp illuminated showing to the operator that the system wasclosed and inactive. However. if the needle'valve 34 is opened, then thebuilt-up pressure within the ram casing 23 may flow back through the restricted port 33 into the casing 15. The ac-' cumulated pressure in the ram casing 23 may be itself initially'sufiicient to open the check valve 38,but the spring 63 will draw the plunger 25 graduallyback to initial position and will force the lubricant before it out through the restricted port 33, past the down wardlyopening check valve 38 and back into the tank 15. I It will'be noted that the port dle valve 34 is left permanentlyopen, never- "theless the pressure pumped from the'tank.

1'5 intothe' ram casing 23 will enter the ram casing faster than it can escape back into the tank 15through the restricted return port 33, and hence a pressure will be built up in theram casing 23 to force the ram 25- outwardly in accordance with the procedure of action aboveoutlined',

nasog'sve Now the needle valve 34 may be nicely adjusted withreference to the restricted port 33 so "as totime the return of'the ram 25 back to the initial position; shown in Figure :8. If the port area at 33 is very small, the plunger 25 will return very slowly and hence the intervals 'betweenwhich measured quantities ofthe lubricant are administeredito the bearings'willbeiremote in point of time; On the other hand if the needle valve 34 is opened wide; then the periods of applyinglubricant will be niore'frequent. When theplunger returns to the initial position, shown in Figure 8,5 it pulls upon the spring-59, which in'turn rotates the plug valve 40 baokto the initial position shown in Figures'2 and 5, where a re-establishment of the communication betweenzthe tank 15 and-internal combustion engine is had and tliebuildingupotapressure in the tank 15 is'begun-again; The re establishment of the'pressure the tank 15', acts through the conduit System18 to force all of the plunger valves 90 again to the outer position, thus forcing the lubricant before these valve plungers out through the plugs 87 a'nd into the hearings to be lubricated;

A. calibrated bushi1ig 200 may be placed in the nipple 31 for restricting the flow ofthe lubricant from the tank 15 to theramcasing 26. vIn this way the time interval for building up sufficient 'pressurein the ram casing to drive the ram'totheoutermost position, may be regulated by'selectingabu'shing with an opening of greater .or less diameter; and consequentlyregulating the time in which the pressure is permitted to exert upon the lubricant in the system. I i y T In order to prevent the oil from passing through the conduits 18 and outaround the lay-passes 93-of the ValveIplungers-QO, the plugs 98prevent access oft-he lubricant under pressure in. the conduitsystem'lS to the bypass passages 93, the lubricant under pres sure in the conduit system .18 being initially against only-the ends of the. plugs 98. This condition continues until the valve plungers '90'are almost at the outer limits of theirmovement. Duringall of this outer movement,a partial vacuum is being formed in theinner portions of the chambersrwithin the casings and about the plugs 98. The-void instantly and energetically draws a measured-quantity of lubricant from the passage 99 into the chambers just referred to, as soon'as'the plugs 98 move outofthe passages 99. The} valve plungers may pause intheir outer movements, while the lubricant is'iilling the' chambers surrounding the stems or plugs 98. Subsequently the pressure isapplied to the whole rear face 'of theplu-ngers 9O forcing the plungers outwardly to close thevalve seats at89. It will be understood that ithe leaf springs 94 possessa degree ofresistance to the passage of the oil outwardly ortoward I the plugs 87, this will prevent the confine I uous flow of oil outwardly'through the de- V vices.

The valve stems or plugs 98 may be varied i it as to length with the result that the shorter the stems the less oil will be measured out and delivered by the devices.

The pressure of thesystem may be regulated by the springpressure of the spring'in the filling cap 83, shown in F igure3.-

lVhile I have shown and described the in V vention asassociate'd with a notor vehicle and Qitfsinternal combustion engine,'it will, be aptioni; or

parentthat the device may be operated by l other sources of pressure than that supplied I I combustion motors, such as air or steam pres- .sure and the device maybe used on stationary from the'combination chambers 0t internal engines or otherv machines needing lubricai It is obvious that various changes and cally described embodiment of this invention ;;without departing from the spirit thereof," such changes and modifications being re strictedonly by the scope ofthe following claims. Y What is-claimed is 1. In an automatic lubricating apparatus,

a container for lubricant in controlled communication with a source of gas under pressure and with the atmosphere, a lubricant conduit leading from fsaidtank tothe parts to be lubricated, a valve movable to alternate- I tainer.

lyopen and close the communication'of the tank with the pressure source andwith the atmosphere, a'r'am chamber in controlled communication with the interior of the container,

said valve, and'means'for controlling the means for restoring the ram in the opposite direction, and a yieldable connection between said ram and the valve.

4. In an automatic lubricating apparatus,

a tank in communication with the bearings to be lubricated and having spaced ports in communication with a source of gas under pressure and the atmosphere respectively, a

valve having a port movable fromone to the other of the first mentioned ports, stop meansmodifications may be made in the details of i I construction and design of the above specifii ram in said ram chamber coupled to actuate flow from the ram chamber back to the con- 2. In an automatic lubricating apparatus,

is in communication with a source of gas uni a container for lubricant,-avalve movable to two positions in one o fwhic'h the container der pressure'and in the second position of the valve the container is in communication with theatmosphere, a lubricant conduit from the container to the parts to be lubricated, a ram cylinder, a restricted inlet from the container "to the ram cylinder, an outlet from the ram cylinder to the containenmeans for controlling said outlet, and a ram in the ram cylinder coupled to move saidnv'alve; I I

3. In'an automatic lubricatingapparatus,

' a container for lubricant having an inlet port '7 in communication with a sourceof gas under pressure and having anoutlet vent to the at- 60 mosphere, avalve having a port movable from the inlet port to the; vent, stop means for re stricting the movement of the valve in opposite directions, a ram i i-communication with the tank and adapted to be driven out-r wardly by the pressure withinthe tank, 

